A leading socio-political group in Southern and Middle Belt of Nigeria, known as Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), has endorsed the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, for the 2023 general election.
The body in a Communique after an extraordinary meeting held on Thursday, 2nd February 2023 in Abuja, said Obi has the capacity to pilot the affairs of Nigeria, in 2023, for the sake of progress and equity.
The meeting which was chaired by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, OFR, CON, had in attendance leaders of the component organizations comprising Afenifere for the South West, Ohanaeze Ndigbo for the South East, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) for the South-South and the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) for the Middle Belt.
According to the Communique, SMBLF, observed that the Presidential candidate of LP, His Excellency, Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra state, stands out amongst the presidential candidates in terms of credibility, integrity, competence, and national outlook.
The group said never in the political history of Nigeria has a candidate joined a moribund political party and within a few months turned it into a national movement for the emancipation of Nigerians-both within and abroad-from oppression, hunger, illiteracy, and hopelessness
It reads in part:SMBLF believes that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) represents the Nigerian conscience, moral probity, generational hope, and redemption epiphany, among others.
“Notes that Nigeria is at an unprecedented threshold, ensnared by a myriad of problems and that Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, IS THE ANSWER!
“Therefore, without equivocation, calls on all Nigerians, who believe in the unity, peace, stability, and sustainable development of the country to embrace the candidacy of Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, because therein lies the unity and progress of Nigeria.
“Further urges Nigerians to go out en masse, in all the 176846 polling units across the country, on election day, 25th Feb 2023, to exercise their franchise and give to the Nation a President who will bring about the “change” we truly desire and deserve”, it added.
Delegations of the constituent organizations were respectively led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Leader of Afenifere (South West); Dr. Pogu Bitrus, President, Middle Belt Forum (Middle Belt); Ambassador Okey Emuchay, Secretary-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide (South East) as well as Dame Betty Igbeyi, mni, National Woman Leader, Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF (South-South).
Delegates to the meeting comprised former Governors, Ministers, Federal and State legislators, Community leaders, top politicians, and professionals as well as Women and Youth Leaders from the Southern and Middle Belt regions.
It includes His Excellency, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, His Excellency, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, His Excellency, Chief C. O. Adebayo, HRH Oba Oladipo Olaitan – Deputy Leader Afenifere, Her Excellency, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, OFR, CFR; Chief John Nnia Nwodo, former Minister of Information & former PG Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor Ihechukwu Madubuike.
Also, former Minister of Education and Health, Chief Barr. Sola Ebiseni, Secretary-General, Afenifere, Professor A. B. C. Nwosu, Chief Dr. Simon Okeke, OFR, former Chairman of Police Service Commission, Mazi Dickson Iroegbu, Professor Charles Nwekeaku, Amb. Eddy Onuoha, HRH Eze Nwosu Ibeh, Hon. Mrs. Sarah Dokotri, Chief Edozie Ezeugwa, High Chief Denzil Kentebe.
Dr. Stella Dorgu, Amb. Ozo Nwobu, Charles Emeka Oputa, Amb Orjiako Umuuna, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, CP Iorbes Ihagh (Rtd)- PG MUT, Engr. S. L. S Salifu, Engr. Ben Akaakar, Mrs. Beatrice Eze, National Treasurer Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Mrs. Daba Obioha, Mrs. Elizabeth A. Jibrin, Chief Douyi Douglas-Naingba, Engr. Ben Akaakar, Dele Farotimi, Prince Maikpobi Okareme, Hon. Bassey Ekefre, Sir (Dr.) Eric Iku, Ibrahim Welye, Hon. Jonathan Tsaku, Orusoso Don Pedro, and Hon. Ken Robinson, among others.
The Communique was signed by Chief (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON – Leader.
Others are Chief Ayo Adebanjo – Leader, Afenifere, Dr. Pogu Bitrus – National President, Middle Belt Forum, Dame Betty Igbeyi, mni – National Woman Leader, PANDEF, Her Excellency, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele and Amb. Okey Emuchay, MFR – Secretary-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide.
It would be recall that on January 1st 2023, former Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, endorsed Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, as his preferred choice for president in next month’s election.
Similarly, two days after, former federal commissioner of Information, Edwin Clark, then endorsed Peter Obi, for the forthcoming election.
